Cushion construction



Oct. 3, 1939. c. H. MENGE CUSHION CONSTRUCTION Original Fil'ed April 29, 1937 I TOR CLARENCE H. MENGE ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 3, 1939 PATENT OFF-ICE cosmos CONSTRUCTION Clarence H. Menge, Mount Clemens, Mich., as-

signor to The Murray Corporation of America, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application April 29, 1937, Serial No. 139,765 Renewed March 24, 1939 8 Claims.

This invention relates to a spring construction. More particularly, it relates to a novel and improved form of border frame element which is designed to facilitate the assembly of seat and cushion constructions.

The invention relates generally to spring constructions which utilize spring elements formed of wire bent to provide a similar series of adjacent lateral. convolutions in which all of the convolutions are bent to lie in substantially the same surface; 'Asis' conventional in constructions of this character, the lastlateral con'volution of each of the spring elements is locked in engagement with a generally channel shaped border frame elementwhich serves to secure the ends of each of the-spring elements in predetermined position'. It is essential that these spring elements'and-their ends be firmly locked in position asit is nowconventional in constructions of this kind to 'tension the spring elements so that they -'1 have an" inherent tendency to lie along anarc-of substantially smaller radius than thatwhich they are forced to assume in the cushion-"construction which, therefore, inherently provides a resiliencefor each of the spring elements.

It has been conventional heretofore to utilize border frame elements comprising a strip of sheet metal rolled to provide a strip of substantially I channel section andto seat the last lateral con- 80' volution of each ofthe spring elements against the base of this channel-like border frame element and. crimp the walls of the channel to- "gether to lock the-spring. element in position v within the channel. This construction renders .85 the assembly of thespring-construction extremely difficult inasmuch as each of the spring elements mustbe first tensioned to the predetermined de- "sired arc of curvature and while thus t ensioned, I

the-last' lateral convolution thereof must be in- ;40 serted in and retained within the channel-like border frameelement while the-crimping thereof takes place. 4 1 5 I I The present invention-contemplatesthe provision of a border frame element'which is of gen- 45f'erallychannel s'ection and which is provided in the base of thechannel with-spaced upward off- ;se'ts spaced apart a distancesubstantially equal to or slightly less'thanthe length of the last lateral convolution of the spring element which is :50 to be maintained withinthe border frame ele- J ment. Portiohsofth'e walls of the channel like order frame'element between the upwardly offsetvp'ortionsare 'crixi'l'ped together-at the'time the border frameelementu=is formed, consequently, it

will be seen that the'last lateral convolution of the spring elements may be snapped into position after the border frame element has been completely formed and that longitudinal movement of these convolutions with respect to the border frame element will be precluded by the upwardly 5 offset portions of the base of the channel and the last lateral convolution of the spring will be retained seated in the channel by means of the crimped together side walls thereof.

It is an object of the invention therefore to 10 provide a spring construction in which the border frame elements may be completely fabricated prior to the insertion of the spring elements which serve to firmly retain the spring elements in position after they have once been inserted. 15

Still another objectof the invention consists in the provision of a novel and easily fabricated border frame element which inherently serves to provide a firm and rigidmounting for the spring elements subsequently to be associated therewith. 20

Many other and further objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will become more clearly apparent from the following specification when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawing forming a part-thereof. 25

- In the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view of a seat cushion utilizing the improved border frame elements forming the subject matter of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 illustrating in detail the cross sectional configuration of one of the improved border frame elements.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 illustrating the manner in which one of the spring elements is retained in the border frame element.

Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse sectional views taken substantially on the lines 4-4 and 5-5, respectively, of Fig. 1 illustrating indetail the transverse cross sectional configuration of one of r the brace elements.

Figs. 6 and '7 are enlarged fragmentary perspective views illustrating the manner in which one of the spring elements is. mountedin the improved border frame element.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view illustrating in detail the manner in which the last lateral convolution of one of the spring elements is seated within the border frame element.

Fig. 9 is a view of structure, similar to that shown in Fig. 8, showing a modified form thereof.

While the specific form of the invention disclosed in the drawing relates to the utilization of the improved border frame element as a portion of a seat cushion, it will readily be appreciated that the invention will find broad practical utility in many other installations where it is desired to provide an effective and simple anchoring means for a section of spring wire with respect to a'channel element.

By way of illustration, Fig. 1 discloses a seat cushion construction comprising a generally'rectangular base frame member II) which may conveniently be formed of a section of wire or similar material. This base frame section I0 is reinforced at the corners by means of diagonally extending brace members H which may be welded or otherwise secured to the framework I0 in order to strengthen the same and increase the rigidity thereof. A plurality of helical coil springs l2 may be anchored at the corners of the base frame and extend upwardly therefrom. The upper ends of these coil springs I! serve to support a cushion frame generally designated as IS.

The cushion frame construction I3 has the lateral side edges thereof formed of sections of wire l4 and the front and rear marginal edges thereof formed of border channel elements l5 which border channel elements constitute the subject matter of the present invention.

The border frame elements l5 each have their ends bent to form the corners of the cushion frame I3 generally and it will be readily seen that the ends of the lateral side frame elements I may conveniently be crimped into the ends of the border frame elements l5 in order to provide a unitary generally rectangular cushion frame construction which cushion frame construction is of. substantially the same size and shape as the base frame Ill. The surface 'of the cushion frame 13 is composed of a plurality of parallel arcuately disposed continuously bent spring elements of the general type disclosed in the patent to Kaden No. 2,000,399.

As is disclosed in this patent, the spring elements [6 are preferably formed of wire bent to provide a series of similar adjacent lateral convolutions all lying in substantially the same surface. After the spring wire has been bent to the predetermined desired form, the spring elements are normalized in order that they will have an inherent tendency to lie along arcs of substantially smaller radius than the arcs upon which they are disposed when utilized in the construction of a seat cushion.

These spring elements l6 are cut to suitable desired lengths and are severed at such a point that they providea lateral convolution extending substantially transverse to the lengths of the spring elements which last lateral convolution is utilized, as is hereinafter seen, to anchor the end of the spring element in position within the border frame element I5.

It will be readily understood that inasmuch as I the spring elements making up the surface structure of the cushion construction are all tensioned to lie along arcs of substantially 8 Her radius than that on which they are mounted in the cushion construction, there is an inherent tendency to draw the front border frame elements l5 toward the rear border frame elements l5. Consequently, in order to brace the surface frame l3 against these forces, it has been found necessary and desirable to provide suitable transverse brace elements H! which extend transversely of the frame and have their ends anchored in the border frame element IS in substantially the same manner as the transversely posed when extending springs are anchored therein. These brace frame members l8 may be arcuately disposed downwardly in order not to interfere with the operation of the arcuately disposed sinuous spring elements.

The border frame elements are preferably formed of sheet metal of rolled sections which may conveniently be formed in continuous lengths. These border frame elements are generally of channel section and the construction thereof is clearly illustrated in Fig. 8. It will be seen that the base of the channel element I5 is provided at substantially uniformly spaced points throughout its length with upraised portions!!! in the base thereof which upraised portions are preferably spaced apart from each other a distance slightly less than the transverse width of the last lateral convolution of the spring element which the channel is adapted to'secure in position. The walls of the channel are crimped together 'at points 2| disposed substantially midway between the upraised portion 20 of the base of the-channel thus providing tunnels between these upraised portions which tunnels are adapted to receive and anchor the last lateral convolution of the spring element in position within the channel.

It will be readily understood that the most significant advantage of the construction of the present invention resides in the fact that the channel elements may be completely formed in continuous lengths and due to the inherent resiliency of the channel elements as well as the spring elements which are subsequently inserted therein, the last lateral convolution of the spring element may be snapped into position between the upraised portions of the base of the channel having the convolution projecting through the tunnel formed by the crimped-in portion ll of the channel. Thus it will be seen that when the seat cushion construction is assembled, it is merely necessary to snap the last lateral convolutions of the arcuate sinuous spring elements into position in these border frame elements and due to the resiliency of the component parts, it will be seen that the spring elements will be firmly anchored in place. The upraised portions of the channel base preclude longitudinal movement of the anchored convolution with respect 'to the channel and the crimped-in portions preclude displacement of the convolution with respect to the channel.

In Fig. 9 the end convolution of the spring element l6 may be provided with a slight bend to have the end thereof projected inwardly toward the adjacent convolution of the element. The end is of sufficient length as to pass over the upraised portion-'20 to co'zitact the underside of the crimped wall portion}! to provide a lock for the end of the wire as the curved end thereof is shouldered against the end of the adjacent upraised portion 20. While a tool is preferably employed for inserting the end of the wire I6 into the border frame, as illustrated in Fig. 8, it has been found that when having the longer length of end convolution it may be slightly bent inwardly and the tool may be dispensed with and the end of the spring elements snapped into place directly by hand.

While but one specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the drawing and described above, it will be readily understood that many and various modifications thereof may be made falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the subjoined c What is claimed is:

1. A border frame element fonspring constructions comprising a generally channel shaped sheet metal member having the base thereof offset upwardly at spaced intervals, the walls of said channel being crimped together at spaced points intermediate said offsets.

2. A border frame element for spring constructions comprising a generally channel shaped sheet metal member, a portion of the base of said channel shaped member being ofiset upwardly, the walls of said channel being crimped together on each longitudinal side of the zone of said oifset.

3. A border frame element of spring construc tions comprising a generally channel shaped sheet metal member having the base of said channel ofiset upwardly at spaced points throughout its length.

4. A border frame element comprising a member of generally channel section having side walls and a bottom wall, said bottom wall being upwardly ofiset at spaced points, said side walls bemetal strip of generally. channel section having side walls and a bottom-wall, said member having zones of greater depth than the portions between said zones, the side walls of said channel member engaging each other between said zones. 7. A spring construction including in combination a generally channel shaped border frame element, and a spring element comprising a section of spring wire bent to provide a series of similaradjacent lateral convolutions, said border frame element having the base of the channel thereof upwardly offset at spaced points, the walls of said channel being crimped together between' said upward offsets, the last lateral convolution of said spring element being seated in the base of said channel between said upwardly offset portions and retained in position therein by said crimped side walls.

8. A spring construction comprising a genei ally channel shaped border frame element, and a spring element seated therein, said spring element comprising a section of spring wire bent to provide a series of similar adjacent lateral convolutions, said border frame element having the base of the channel thereof upwardly oiiset at spaced points, said upward offsets being spaced together slightly closer than the last lateral convolution of said spring element, the walls of said channel element being crimped together between said offsets to firmly retain the last lateral convolution of said spring element seated in the border frame element between said upward oflsets.

CLARENCE H. was. 

